New on DVD and Blu-Ray October 19th: Picks And Tips

Howdy partners! Welcome my weekly look at what’s new on DVD and Blu-ray. There’s plenty for us to get our teeth into this time, including the re-release of two iron-clad classics on Blu-ray, so let’s get to it.

Predators

Those pesky aliens are back to hunt down more of our Planet Earth-dwellers, only this time it is Oscar winner Adrien Brody leading a group of rag-tag mercenaries. Wait, what? Adrien Brody as a bad-ass? In fact, the guy proves how awesome he is by proving that he can perform well in any role he turns his hand to. The film’s a hoot too. Pick it up when you can. You can also check out Michael’s review of the disc here.

Extras, extras, read all about ’em!

Blu-ray BONUS FEATURES

Disc 1: Blu-ray Theatrical Feature

Commentary by Robert Rodriguez and Nimród Antal

Motion Comics

Moments of Extraction

Crucified

Evolution of the Species: Predators Reborn

The Chosen

Fox Movie Channel presents Making a Scene

Deleted and Extended Scenes

Theatrical Trailer

DVD Bonus Features

Commentary by Robert Rodriguez and director, Nimród Antal

De-cloaking the Invisible: Alien Terrain

Motion Comics

Moments of Extraction: Robert Rodriguez presents exclusive prequel vignettes voiced by the cast of PREDATORS. Witness the secret adventures that turned two of our world’s most ruthless killers into the ultimate Predator prey

Isabelle

Mombasa

Crucified

Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban Ultimate Edition

This one is a must-buy for fans. One of two big Harry Potter re-releases this week, this is the only film in the series I haven’t seen. I’ll scratch that itch by picking up this set, which is packed with tons of extras. Check ’em out!

CREATING THE WORLD OF HARRY POTTER, PART 3: CREATURES

Never-before-seen footage of the Creature Shop.

Never revealed concept drawings, interviews with creators who describe the quest to create real creatures with emotional power to move the adventure forward.

Behind the scenes footage with Daniel, Rupert and Emma interacting with a marvelous menagerie from magnificent Buckbeak to malevolent Dementors.

DISC 1: MOVIE

DISC 2: CREATURES

Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 3:Magical Creatures

A tour of Nick Dudman’s Creature Shop

An Interview in Spanish with Alfonso Cuarón

3 Vintage TV Specials: The Magic Touch of Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Something Wicked This Way Comes, The Making of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanTheatrical Trailers

DISC 3: SPECIAL FEATURES

Additional Scenes Creating the Vision: Interview with J.K. Rowling and the Filmmakers

Conjuring a Scene: Creating Buckbeak and the Dementors for the Screen

Johnny Vaughan and the Shrunken Head Lead Raucous Interviews with the Cast

Self-Guided Tours of Honeydukes and Professor Lupin’s Classroom

Meet the Animal Trainers in Care of Magical Creatures

3 Great Challenges: Test Your Memory with Magic You May Have Missed, Help Crookshanks Catch Scabbers, and Go on an Unxepected Quest with Sir Cadogan

COLLECTIBLES: 48-Page Creatures Photo Book with Rare Images from Years 1-7

Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire Ultimate Edition

As if you need any more reasons to revisit one of the best entries in the franchise, check out this list of extras!

DISC 1:

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

DISC 2:

Creating the World of Harry Potter Part 4: Sound and Music

5 Vintage TV Specials: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Behind the Magic; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Dark Matters, New Masters; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Some Animal Magic; Inside Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Triwizard Tournament: Maze – Maze Challenge; To the Graveyard and Back Challenge; The Maze: The Third Task; He Who Must Not Be Named

COLLECTIBLES:

44-Page Sound & Music Photo Book with rare images from years 1-7

Year 4 lenticular card

Two in a series of character cards: Ronald Weasley & Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody

Totally ace set. Get your hands on it when you can.

Disneynature: Oceans

I’m a sucker for a good nature documentary (try telling me that Planet Earth is anything other than the finest nature television series of all time and I will fight you), so this one makes this week’s list. If you can, I’d definitely recommend picking it up on Blu-ray to get that delicious hi-def “oh no, my living room’s flooding!” experience.

DVD BONUS FEATURES:

Deeper In The Ocean Select videos from living menus and filmmaker annotations

Disneynature: Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos

I’m less intrigued about this one than Oceans, but I’d still like to see it. I’ll be going to the rental store for this one.

Blu-ray BONUS FEATURES

Living Planet – Explore the Earth in a Fully Interactive Experience!

Filmmaker Annotations

The Crimson Wing screensaver

Lake Natron Diaries: Behind The Crimson Wing

DVD BONUS FEATURES

Lake Natron Diaries: Behind The Crimson Wing

Colin

This one is notable more for the intrigue factor than anything else. Famously made for just 45 British pounds and a thrifty attitude, this one will barely sneak under most people’s radars. Worth a peek though, and you’ve nothing to lose by renting this.

Psycho (50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray)

This is a must-own. Seriously. Stop what you’re doing, run out and buy it right now, then finish reading the rest of this column before watching it. Check out how damn cool that Blu-ray cover is too. I can’t wait to get my hands on this tasty little number which is jam-packed with tasty extras.

The Making of Psycho

Psycho Sound

In The Master’s Shadow: Hitchcock’s Legacy

Hitchcock / Truffaut Interview Excerpts

Newsreel Footage: The Release of Psycho

The Shower Scene: With and Without Music

The Shower Scene: Storyboards by Saul Bass

The Psycho Archives

Lobby Cards

Behind-the-Scenes Photographs

Production Photographs

Theatrical Trailer

Re-release Trailers

My Scenes

Feature Commentary with Stephen Rebello (author of “Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho”)

BD Live

Apocalypse Now (Blu-ray)

Duh-duh-duh-nuh-nuh . . . Oh, you know the rest. The only question here is whether to pick up the two-disc or three-disc Full Disclosure edition. Hint: it’s the three disc-er. Check these bonus goodies out:

Both the 1979 cut and the redux in high definition.

Exclusive to three-disc Full Disclosure edition: Hearts of Darkness, the feature-length making-of documentary with optional audio commentary from Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola

“Heard Any Good Movies Lately? The Sound Design of Apocalypse Now” featurette

“The Final Mix” featurette

“Apocalypse Then and Now” featurette

“PBR Streetgang” interviews with the boat crew actors

“The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now” featurette

Phew. Plenty to keep you going. I need this. You do too.

Moulin Rouge (Blu-ray)

This is one that I have to admit is desperately missing from my filmic knowledge. That said, I’ll be picking up this colourful musical (yeah, I’ve seen the trailers) in my local rental store. If you’re a fan, buy it. It’ll look so, so much better than your Ye Olde Worlde DVD. To the extras!